Joshua Alexander Gatt (born August 29, 1991) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Gold Star FC.

Josh Gatt
Personal information
Full name Joshua Alexander Gatt
Date of birth (1991-08-29) August 29, 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth Plymouth, Michigan, United States
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Gold Star FC
Number 69
Youth career
2007–2010 Michigan Wolves
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Rheindorf Altach 15 (4)
2011–2016 Molde 60 (9)
2017 Minnesota United 0 (0)
2017 Colorado Rapids 20 (2)
2018 Detroit City 1 (0)
2018–2019 Rheindorf Altach 15 (1)
2019 Rheindorf Altach II 2 (1)
2020 Dundalk 2 (0)
2021 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 6 (0)
2023– Gold Star FC 0 (0)
International career
2010–2011 United States U20 4 (3)
2012–2013 United States 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 6, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 29, 2013

Club career edit

Early career edit

Born in Plymouth, Michigan, Gatt played varsity for four years at Detroit Catholic Central High School. He also played in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for the Michigan Wolves.

Rheindorf Altach edit

Gatt first attracted attention as a Michigan-area youth player when his club competed in a tournament against European academy teams in Switzerland. Through the SuperElite system, the winger was offered trials at 1. FSV Mainz 05 and at SCR Altach and eventually received an offer from the latter club.[1]

Gatt proceeded to sign with SC Rheindorf Altach, leaving behind an opportunity to play at Indiana University. Upon his arrival in Austria in the summer of 2010, he immediately joined the first team,[2] and scored 5 goals in 14 matches.[3]

Molde edit

On January 12, 2011 it was announced that Gatt had joined Norwegian side Molde, and was among Ole Gunnar Solskjær's first signings as manager together with Davy Claude Angan and Magnus Wolff Eikrem.[4] He made his debut against Sarpsborg 08 on March 18.[5] He scored his first goal on July 30 against Vålerenga.[citation needed] Josh scored his second goal in as many games on August 4 against Start.[6]

In the first half of the 2012 season, Gatt scored goals against Strømsgodset, Stabæk and Vålerenga. According to himself he also scored a goal against Sandnes Ulf,[7] but the official statistics count that one to Mattias Moström.

On June 29, 2013, during the first half of Molde's home Tippeligaen match against Sarpsborg 08, Gatt seriously injured his knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the season and requiring surgery.[8] Gatt also missed the entire 2014 season. After almost 21 months out injured, Gatt was finally cleared to play again on April 20, 2015.[9] Gatt made his long-awaited return for Molde on May 22, 2015, but his lasted only 4 minutes before feeling "....pain and insecurity..." in his knee,[10] resulting in a third operation on the troublesome knee.[11] Over a year later, September 11, 2016, Gatt again made his return for Molde, coming on as a 67th minute substitute for Harmeet Singh.[12]

United States edit

Gatt left Molde at the end of 2016, going on trial with 1. FC Nürnberg in January 2017,[13] before signing with MLS team Minnesota United on February 15, 2017.[14]

On March 31, 2017 Minnesota United FC traded Gatt, Mohammed Saeid, and an international roster spot to Colorado Rapids for Marc Burch and Sam Cronin.[15] His option was declined at the end of the 2017 season.[16]

During the 2017 offseason, Gatt's wife Melissa was diagnosed with cancer. While acting as his wife's caregiver during chemotherapy, he played one game for NPSL club Detroit City FC. After her cancer went into remission, he re-joined Rheindorf Altach in June 2018.[17] On July 16, 2018, Gatt officially signed with Rheindorf Altach.[18]

Dundalk edit

On June 23, 2020, Gatt signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Dundalk.[19] Gatt made his debut for the club in the FAI Cup against Waterford F.C. on August 11.

Gatt left Dundalk in November 2020.[20]

Pittsburgh Riverhounds edit

On February 11, 2021, Gatt joined USL Championship side Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.[21]

International career edit

Gatt was called up to the United States national team on September 2, 2012, but he had to withdraw due a hamstring injury.[22] He made his international debut on November 14, 2012 in a friendly match versus Russia.[23] Gatt was originally named to the 23-man roster for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, but was later ruled out for the tournament after picking up a knee injury in a match on June 29 against Sarpsborg 08 FF.[24]

Style of play edit

When Gatt was signed by Molde, Solskjær stated that he had signed an attacking player with a fast pace who can play on the right wing, left wing, and as a striker.[25] Gatt has run a self-timed 100 meters in 11.00 seconds.[4]

Personal life edit

Gatt's wife, Melissa, was diagnosed with cancer in early 2018. Without a club, Gatt set up a ‘Go Fund Me’ page for her treatment which was contributed to by a number of his former teammates.[26] As of June 2018, they had raised $78,000, and Melissa's cancer was in remission.[17]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

As of match played August 29, 2021[27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rheindorf Altach 2010–11 Erste Liga 15 4 3 2 18 6
Molde 2011 Tippeligaen 22 3 5 2 - 27 5
2012 Tippeligaen 19 5 3 0 5 0 27 5
2013 Tippeligaen 12 0 1 1 0 0 13 1
2014 Tippeligaen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015 Tippeligaen 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2016 Tippeligaen 6 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
Total 60 9 9 3 5 0 74 12
Minnesota United 2017 MLS 0 0 0 0 0 0
Colorado Rapids 2017 MLS 20 2 2 0 22 2
Rheindorf Altach 2018–19 Austrian Bundesliga 15 1 1 0 16 1
Dundalk 2020 League of Ireland Premier Division 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2021 USL Championship 6 0 - - - 6 0
Career total 118 15 16 5 5 0 134 20

International edit

As of match played July 10, 2019[28]
United States national team
Year Apps Goals
2012 1 0
2013 1 0
Total 2 0

Honors edit

Club edit

Molde

References edit

  1. ^ Hamilton, Tom (January 23, 2020). "Josh Gatt isn't giving up on soccer, even if soccer seems to be giving up on him". ESPN. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Article Title[usurped]
  3. ^ Langerød, Dag (February 10, 2011). "- Pappa var helt imot fotball" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Vestad, Lars Anders (January 12, 2011). "MFKs nye angriper kunne vært sprinter" (in Norwegian). Romsdals Budstikke. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  5. ^ "mfkweb.org > spillere". www.mfkweb.org.
  6. ^ "Video: Two goals in two games for American Josh Gatt".
  7. ^ Inbjør, Jan H. (July 17, 2012). "Gatt: – Jeg må scored mer" (in Norwegian). Romsdals Budstikke. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  8. ^ Rise, Hans-Olav (July 16, 2013). "Gatt ute resten av sesongen" [Gatt out for the season] (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  9. ^ "Joshua Gatt on Twitter". Twitter. Joshua Gatt. April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  10. ^ "American Exports: Josh Gatt waiting on second opinion to discover extent of latest knee injury". Major League Soccer. mlssoccer. May 27, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  11. ^ "Josh Gatt has third surgery, leaves heartfelt Instagram message". starsandstripesfc.com. starsandstripesfc. September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  12. ^ "Jürgen Klinsmann glad for å se Gatt tilbake fra skade". itromso.no (in Norwegian). iTromso. September 12, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  13. ^ "Gatt on Trial". twitter.com (in German). 1. FC Nürnberg Twitter. December 4, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  14. ^ "Josh Gatt Signs With MNUFC". mnufc.com. Minnesota United FC. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  15. ^ "MNUFC Adds Veteran Talent | Minnesota United FC".
  16. ^ Josh Gatt at Major League Soccer
  17. ^ a b O'Connor, Larry (June 13, 2018). "Plymouth's Josh Gatt refocuses on soccer career after wife's cancer ordeal". Detroit News. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  18. ^ "Joshua Gatt kehrt zum SCRA zurück". newsroom.scra.at.
  19. ^ "LILYWHITES COMPLETE DEAL FOR JOSHUA GATT". dundalkfc.com/. Dundalk F.C. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  20. ^ Farrell, Sinead. "Former US international winger who played under Solskjaer leaves Dundalk". The42. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  21. ^ "RIVERHOUNDS SC SIGN JOSH GATT". The42. February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  22. ^ "Klinsmann: "We Want to Get Maximum Points" - U.S. Soccer". Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  23. ^ "Soccer Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN".
  24. ^ "Protected Blog › Log in". usatsbi.wordpress.com.
  25. ^ Kvatningen, Roy (January 12, 2011). "Solskjærs babyer" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  26. ^ "Soccer community rallies around ex-MLSer Josh Gatt and his wife, Melissa | MLSSoccer.com".
  27. ^ "Joshua Gatt". Soccerway. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  28. ^ "Joshua Gatt". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved September 13, 2016.

External links edit